Building panel

ABSTRACT

A BUILDING PANEL TO BE INTERLOCKED WITH SIMILARLY CONFIGURED PANELS TO FORM THE EXTERIOR WALL OF A BUILDING, THE PANEL BEING A PAIR OF END SECTIONS, A CENTER SECTION THEREBETWEEN AND FLUTED SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY BETWEEN THE CENTER SECTION AND THE END SECTIONS, EACH OF THE END SECTIONS HAVING MEANS TO MAKE AN INTERLOCKING FIT WITH CORRESPONDING MEANS ON ADJACENT PANEL.

March 9, 1971 c. T. FLACHBARTH E L 3,563,388

BUILD-ING- PANEL Filed Oct. 15, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVISNTURS. CHARLES T. FLACHBARTH ROBERT L. PARSONS ATTORNEY.

March 9, 1971 c. T. FLACHBARTH ET AL BUILDING PANEL '3 Shee t s-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1968 INVI'IN'I'URS.

CHARLES T. FLACHBARTH ROBERT L. PARSONS ATTORNEY.

March 9, 1971 c, T FLACHBARTH ET AL 3,568,388

BUILDING PANEL Filed Oct. 15, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT( )R S. CHARLES T. FLACHBARTH ROBERT L. PARSONS Mi 34 A rTORNEY.

United States Patent Oflice Patented Mar. 9, 1971 3,568,388 BUILDING PANEL Charles T. Flachbarth and Robert L. Parsons, Parkersburg, W. Va., assignors to Textron Inc., Providence, R.I. Filed Oct. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 767,613 Int. Cl. E04c 1/10, 2/32 US. Cl. 52-588 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A building panel to be interlocked with similarly configured panels to form the exterior wall of a building, the panel being a pair of end sections, a center section therebetween and fluted sections respectively between the center section and the end sections, each of the end sections having means to make an interlocking fit with corresponding means on adjacent panel.

This invention relates to pre-engineered buildings and more specifically relates to improved panels for use in forming the exterior wall of a building and in forming the corners of such a building wall.

In one aspect the invention contemplates wall panels of a unique configuration which adapts the same for use in forming the wall of a building structure as by being fastened or interlocked with identical, adjacent panels.

In another aspect the invention contemplates panels particularly for use in forming the corners of the exterior wall of a building, the corner panel having essentially the same configuration as the panels of the wall except that the corner is bent into sections at 90 to one another.

Another object of the invention is to present a panel configuration which, for any given gauge, provides a panel of a length substantially greater that that conventionally attainable with such gauge.

Another object of the invention is to present a panel configuration providing the same strength and stiffness for a given length as attainable with conventional designs only by the use of heavier gauge metal.

Another object of the invention is to present a panel configuration providing for a panel having such length and strength that all secondary framing on buildings up to fourteen feet in height can be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to present a panel configuration providing such strength and rigidity that single panels can be used to span the vertical height on a building and thereby eliminate the necessity of using a plurality of panels to obtain the height.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel configuration having ribs on opposite sides thereof extending inwardly and having a flat configuration which gives strength and rigidity to the panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel configuration including fluted sections which include flat portions extending normally to the face of the panel and give strength and rigidity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel configuration having a bead co-extensive with the length of the panel and functioning to break up the expanse of flat metal sections to camouflage the joinder point between adjacent panels and to give additional stiffness to the panel.

Another object of the invention is to present a panel configuration which provides the appearance of deep shadow lines in the sunlight and giving an effect which is bold, attractive and prestigious.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel configuration which will de-emphasize the rippling or oilcan effect which comes about because metal forming the panel is not always perfectly flat and which will deemphasize slight variations in the color of the panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel which is adaptable for factory pre-painting, and having a configuration which de-emphasizes slight variations in color which sometimes occur in production painting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel configuration having ribs on opposite sides which extend inwardly and are adapted to interlock with corresponding ribs on adjacent panels to form tight, weather resistant joints.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel configuration including ribs on opposite sides of the panel which extend inwardly to be interlocked with corresponding ribs on adjacent panels and which permit the panels to be fastened together on the inside and thereby eliminate exterior fasteners.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel configuration including a pair of ribs on opposite sides which extend inwardly and terminate in channel sections configured to interlock with corresponding channel sections on adjacent panels, in each channel one side being formed with a bias and a turned out edge to assist in assembly and in holding the panels firmly in position until bolt fasteners are installed.

With the above in mind then a preferred embodiment of the invention and the manner in which the same is used in a pre-engineered building will be described below in connection with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view showing several panels of the invention arranged together in a building structure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view partially in section of the panels of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a line diagram showing particularly the cross sectional shape or configuration of the panel of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the section noted in FIG. 3 and illustrating a portion of the fluted section, in particular the manner adapted to impart stiffness to the panel.

FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view illustrating the locking channels formed on the ribs and the manner in which corresponding channels are fitted and interlocked together.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the lines 77 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 side walls of a building is comprised of th wall panels 1 and the corner panels 2. While it is not shown it will be understood that the building depicted is rectangular so that there are panels making up four side walls and four panels making up the corners.

The building is supported on a foundation 3, the top of which carries a base channel flashing 4 mounting the base channel 5. The base channel flashing and the base channel are held on the foundation as by a plurality of stud bolts 6 (FIG. 6) carrying the lock nut 7.

The base channel has an inner fastening flange 10, a series of outer retaining flanges 11 and a series of intermediate tabs 12. The flanges and the tab are adapted to interengage the portions of the panel 2 and hold the same against inner-out and side-wise motion as will be noted hereinafter.

On top of the panels is a wall cap 13, the cap having a fastening flange 14 corresponding to the fastening flange 10, an outer fastening flange 15 and a plurality of tabs 16 which correspond to the tabs 12. As best indicated in FIG. 6, the wall cap 13 is secured to the building structure 20 by the plurality of bolts 21.

The preferred configuration of the panel for forming the side walls of a building will next be described. Referring to FIG. 3, the panel has a front end section 22 which is co-extensive with the length of the panel and has a flat surface 23. On the opposite end is a second end section 24 which is co-extensive with the length of the panel and also has a flat surface 25 which is substantially co-planar with the flat surface 23. The panel includes a center section 26 which is coextensive with the length of the panel and is disposed between the end sections 22 and 24. The center section 26 has a substantially flat surface 30 which is coplanar with the surface 23 and 25. These surfaces 23, 25 and 30 are on the front face of the panel and form portions of the exterior Wall when the panel is in a building structure.

The panel includes a first fluted section 31 which is coextensive with the length of the panel and is connected to and disposed between the end section 22 and the center section 26. The fluted section 31 comprises a recessed portion 32 and joinder portions 33 and 34 on opposite sides thereof and which respectively join the recessed portion with the end section 22 and the center section 26. As will be observed in the embodiment shown, the recessed portion 32 is spaced inwardly of the end and center sections. The recessed portion 32 has a flat front surface 35 which forms part of the front face of the panel.

A second fluted section 36 is disposed between the end section 24 and the center section 26 and is co-extensive with the length of the panels. This fluted section 36 has a recessed portion 40 and joinder portion 41 and 42 which are the same as the corresponding portions in the fluted section 31.

The center section 26 is provided with an inwardly extending head 43 which is co-extensive with the panel and functions to provide a stiffness against bending of the panel in a front-to-back direction. The bead also serves to provide a match for joints between adjacent panels. For example, with reference to FIG. 2 it will be seen that the bead 44 appears similar to the joints 45 and 46 between the wall panels 50, 51 and corner panel 52.

The configuration of the joinder portions is an important part of the invention particularly because the joinder portion provides a stiffening means in the sense of preventing buckling of the panel in the front-to-back direction. The joinder portions are all identical in construction and this will be described for the joinder portion 33 shown in enlarged form in FIG. 4. The joinder portion 33 includes a flat section 53 and a curved section 54. The section 53 is co-extensive with the length of the panel and extends generally normal to the end section 22 or to the face of the panel. The section 53 extends inwardly and terminates at the junction 55 with the curved section 54. The curved section 54 joins the recessed portion 32 generally as indicated at 56.

In the embodiment shown, the section 53 is flat approximately over the area indicated by the arrows A. The section 54 is semi-circular with the radius being located at the point R. As will be observed the point R is off-set inwardly from the end section 22. Needless to say, the section 54 may partake of a shape other than a semicircular one, the important point about the joinder section being that it includes a flat section such as the flat section 53.

On the left hand side at the edge of the end section 22 is a rib which is connected to the end section and extends inwardly. The rib 60 is co-extensive with the length of the panel and the inner end of the rib terminates in a locking channel 61 which is open to the back of the panel. On the right hand side is a second rib 62 co-extensive with the length of the panel connected to the second end section 24 and also extends inwardly and terminates in an open locking channel 63 also open in a direction toward the back of the panel.

The function of the locking channels is to interlock with corresponding channels formed on adjacent panels. For example, in FIG. 2, the panel 51 on the left hand side has a rib 64 and channel 65. The rib 64 and channel 65 are identical to the rib 60 and channel 61 of FIG. 3. The adjacent panel 50 (on the left) has a rib and channel 71 which are identical to the rib 62 and the channel 63 of FIG. 3. The channel 65 is nested within channel 71. In this condition the outside surface of the channel 65 engages the inside surface of the channel 71.

Similarly, on its right hand side, the panel 51 has a rib 72 and channel 73 identical to the rib 62 and channel 63 of FIG. 3. The adjacent panel 52 (on the right) has a rib 74 and channel 75 which are the same as the rib 60 and channel 61. As will be noted, the channel 75 is nested within channel 73. The outside surface of the channel 65 engages the inside surface of the channel 73.

The outside dimensions of the inside channels (such as channel 61) are substantially the same as the inside dimensions of the outside channels (such as channel 63). These dimensions are set up to provide a nesting or interlocking fit.

As will be observed each of the ribs described above is essentially flat and extends generally normal to the face of the panel. This relatively long flat surface is highly advantageous in that it provides substantial stiffening means to prevent buckling of the panel in the front-to-back direction.

Preferably, the channels are configured in a manner which serves the important function of providing for ease of assembly and for holding the panels tightly together until fastening bolts can be applied. This structure is shown in FIG. 5 which are exploded views of the channels 65 and 71. The wall which forms one side of the channel 71 is biased toward the wall 81 which forms the other side of the channel. The outer edge of the wall 80 has a turned out lip 82. Preferably, the bias of the wall 80 is about 7% With the foregoing construction the small channel which is to be nested or telescoped within the large channel can be quickly and conveniently snapped into place as shown in the right hand side of FIG. 5. In this position the side 80 exerts a retaining force on the inside channel to hold the same firmly in position until such time as the fastening bolts are applied.

The manner of applying the fastening bolts and the manner in which the retaining flanges hold the panel will next be described.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the fastening flange 10 on the base channel and the fastening flange 14 on the wall cap 13 bear against the outer locking channel of each panel fastening. Both fastening flanges 10 and 14 are provided with a plurality of openings. The locking channels are also provided with openings. When the panels are in the position shown in FIG. 1 the flange and channel openings are in alignment. Fastening bolts such as the bolts 83 on the top and 84 on the bottom (see FIG. 6) are used to secure the channels tight against the flanges to hold the channel against transverse and back and forth motion.

The retaining flanges 11 and tabs 12 on the base channel and the retaining flange 15 and tabs 16 on the wall cap function to maintain the panel in fixed position. This is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the panel 51 the end sections 83 and 84 and the center section 85 all bear on the retaining flanges 11. This prevents inward movement of the panel face. The fluted sections 86 and 87 bear against the tabs 12 which prevent motion in an out-ward direction. On wall cap the retaining flange 15 bears against the end and center sections and the tabs 16 bear against the fluted section to prevent motion in an outward direction. (See FIG. 6.)

The configuration of the panel as described heretofore lends itself nicely to the making of corner sections such as the panel 52 in FIG. 2. This panel has end section 90, a center section 91 having portions 92 and 93 which are disposed at right angles to each other, an end section 94 and fluted sections 95 and 96.

The rib 74 and channel 75 extend inwardly from the end section 90 and the rib 100 and channel 101 extend inwardly from the end section 94.

The corner panel 52 is held in position similarly as the wall panel 51. The end sections 90 and 94 and center section 91 bear against the retaining flanges 11, the fluted sections 95 and 96 bear against the tabs 12. On the inside the locking channels bear against the fastening flanges of the base channel and wall cap.

Preferably, the panels described are made on a roll forming machine of conventional design, the various rollers in the machine being adapted to roll out a form as shown. For making a corner panel, the bead which is normally formed in the center section of the wall panel can be omitted in the rolling operation. After the panel is rolled and cut to the proper length, the same is put in a brake and bent at right angles to form the corner sections.

Thus, corner sections do not require any special tooling or special widths of stock material. The same stock can eventually wind up as either a wall panel or a corner panel. This, of course, is of substantial advantage in that there is savings in tool costs and in savings in inventory requirements of stock to be rolled.

In assembling or setting up a building the preferred procedure is .to lay down the base channel flashing and the base channel and then erect a corner and then go in a counter-clockwise direction laying in adjacent panels and corners and wall caps. The wall panels are preferably made 16 inches wide and 3 inches deep. This provides an inside space which corresponds with conventional stud space. With this construction conventional insulation can be readily and conveniently applied between the ribs. Also, it will be noted that the fastening flanges on the base channel and on the wall cap are set up in position to receive fastening means for interior decorative wall means.

In the foregoing description, it will be apparent that We have provided a panel having a configuration such that a number of identical panels can be interlocked together to form the exterior wall of a building and provide the several advantages commented on. Each panel is secured on the top and bottom by relatively simple but positively operating means and between the top and bottom the panel is provided with a number of normally extending flat sections which prevent buckling of the panel in a front to back direction.

The configuration of the panel lends itself to being rolled from pre-painted coiled stock and the effect provided by the fluted sections, the beads and the joints deemphasizes any slight variations in color that may be present in the exterior painting. Also, the configuration minimizes the flat expanse of metal and therefore reduces the oil-can effect due to imperfect flatness of the metal.

The rigidity factors provided by the ribs, the beads and the joinder sections permit the panel to be dimensioned and the gauge to be selected so that a minimum amount of metal is necessary to any given length. .This helps to reduce material costs. We have found that for any particular gauge of steel, we can provide a panel which is of much greater length than a conventionally formed panel using the same gauge of steel and a panel which is much stronger for the same length. This is of special advantage in reducing the number of panels to be handled and thereby effect a saving in erection costs as well as eliminate unsightly lap joints and also eliminate costs for interior supporting framing in certain types of smaller buildings.

Finally, it is to be noted that the panel configuration provides for eliminating all secondary framing on buildings for a height of 12 feet maximum with a 25 p.s.i. wind load, up to 14 feet maximum with a 20 p.s.i. wind load and up to 16 feet with a 15 p.s.i. wind load.

We claim:

1. An elongated building panel for use in forming a portion of the side wall of a building structure as by being fastened to an identical, adjacent panel, the panel being formed to comprise:

a first end section co-extensive with the length of the panel and having a flat surface;

a second end section spaced from the first end section and co-extensive with the length of the panel and having a flat surface;

a counter section co-extensive with the length of the panel and disposed between said end sections and having a flat surface, said surfaces of the end sections and the surface of the center section being coplanar and forming at least part of the front face of the panel and being adapted to form portions of the exterior of the wall when the panel is in a building structure;

a bead in said center section and co-extensive with the length of the panel to provide stiffness to the panel and to provide a match for the joints between adjacent panels;

a first fluted section co-extensive with the length of the panel and connected to and disposed between said first end section and said center section, the fluted section comprising a flat recessed portion parallel to said flat co-planar surfaces and joinder portions connected on opposite sides of the recessed portion, each joinder portion including a curved section and a flat section connected thereto, each curved section being connected to the recessed portion and the flat sections being respectively connected to said first end section and to said center section and extending normal to the face of the panel to provide stilfness in the front-back direction;

a second fluted section co-extensive with the length of the panel and connected to and disposed between said second end section and said center section, the second fluted section comprising a flat recessed portion parallel to said flat co-planar surfaces and joinder portions connected on opposite sides of the recessed portion, each joinder portion including a curved section and a flat section connected thereto, each curved section being connected to the recessed portion and the flat sections being respectively connected to said second end section and to said center section and extending normal to the face of the panel to provide stiffness in the front-back direction;

a first rib connected to and extending in a direction in wardly from said first end section, the rib being co-extensive with the length of the panel and terminating in a locking channel open in a direction toward the back of the panel, the outside surface of which is to engage with the inside surface of a corresponding channel on a rib on an adjacent panel for interlocking with the same and said first rib being flat and extending normal to said face of the panel to provide for panel stiffness in the front-back direction; and

a second rib connected to and extending away from the said second end section in the same direction as said first rib, the second rib being co-extensive with the length of the panel and terminating in a locking channel open in a direction toward the back of the panel, the inside surface of which is to engage with the outside surface of a corresponding channel on a rib on an adjacent panel for interlocking with the same, the outside dimensions of said first rib being substantially the same as the inside dimensions of said second rib and said second rib being flat and extending normal to said face of the panel to provide for panel stiffness in the front-back direction.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said recess portion is spaced inwardly of the end and center sections.

3. An elongated building panel for use in forming a corner panel of the wall of a building structure as by being co-extensive with the length of the panel and termifastened to identical, adjacent panels, the panel being nating in a locking channel open in a direction toformed to comprise:

a first end section co-extensive with the length of the panel and having a flat surface; a second end section spaced from the first end section Ward the back of the panel, the outside surface of which is to engage with the inside surface of a corresponding channel on a rib on an adjacent panel for and coextensive with the length of the panel and havinterlocking with the same and said first rib being ing a fiat surface oriented substantially at 90 to first flat and extending normal to the flat surface of said said fiat surface; first end section to provide for panel stiffness; and a center section co-extensive with the length of the panel second rib connected to and extending in a direction and disposed between said end sections and having a inwardly from said second end section, the second pair of flat surfaces oriented at 90 to each other and rib being co-extensive with the length of the panel respectively co-planar with the flat surfaces of said and terminating in a locking channel open in a direcend sections; tion toward the back of the panel, the inside surface a first fluted section co-extensive with the length of the of which is to engage with the outside surface of a panel and connected to and disposed between said 1 corresponding channel on a rib on an adjacent panel first end section and said center section, the fluted for interlocking with the same, the outside dimensection comprising a flat recessed portion parallel sions of said first rib being substantially the same as with the flat surface of said first end section and the inside dimensions of said second rib and said secjoinder portions connected on opposite sides of the ond rib being flat and extending normal to the fiat recessed portion, each joinder portion including a surface of said second end section to provide for curved section and a fiat section connected thereto, each curved section being connected to the recessed portion and the flat sections being respectively connected to said first end section and to said center secpanel stiffness.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tion and extending inwardly in a direction normal to the flat Surface of Said first end section to provide for zi r egt 32 33582; panel stiffness;

a second fluted section co-extensive with the length of g at the panel and connected to and disposed between said 2272910 2/1942 G 1 3, (jg-1 52588X second end section and said center section, the sec- 3205632 9/1965 M C er k 5? 588 ond fluted section comprising a flat recessed portion 3287868 11/1966 B ckormlc -52 38X Parallel :with the flat surface of said second end sec- 3333383 967 R d g-"l; 52-58 8X tion and joinder portions connected on opposite sides 334701O 67 K ht aug 52588X of the recessed p ion, each joinder portion includ- I 3462906 9 S 52:483X iIlg a curvfid Section nd a flat section connected 3463522 8/1969 2 583? 52476X thereto, each curved section being respectively connected to the recessed portion and the flat sections being connected to said second end section and to said center section and extending inwardly normal to the fiat surface of said second end section to provide for panel stiffness;

a first rib connected to and extending in a direction inwardly from said first end section, the first rib being FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner S. D. BURKE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

